Region looking at 3.08 per cent tax increase

WATERLOO REGION — The Region of Waterloo is considering a 3.08 per cent tax increase for next year, equal to an extra $60 for the average household.

That increase covers the preliminary Waterloo Regional Police Service budget as well as staff requests for improvements to various services, including ambulances, public transit and discretionary benefits.

The 2018 budget being deliberated by council includes $2.1 million shaved off the base budget by finding efficiencies without affecting service levels.

“We go through a process of reviewing all the budgets,” chief financial officer Craig Dyer told the regional budget committee on Wednesday afternoon.

Coun. Geoff Lorentz asked if there’s a reason for dwindling savings in the budget over recent years. In 2014, reviews found budget reductions worth $3.7 million.

“They’re getting harder to find,” Dyer said.

Without the police budget, expected to be approved in early December, and service expansions, the base budget increase would be 2.04 per cent.

The total cost of the proposed service expansions is $2.9 million, with not all having a tax levy impact.

Bolstering the ambulance service to handle a growing call volume and off-load delays is among the more costly proposals before council. The service is asking to add two 12-hour ambulances, 10 paramedics and seven support staff.

“Staff are proposing the next stage of the master plan implementation,” Dyer explained.

That master plan was approved by council in 2016, and one of the ambulance shifts being asked for now was deferred from this year.

The cost of the new ambulances and staff would be $939,000 in 2018 and annualized at $1.2 million. The new ambulances would be paid for from the vehicle reserve.

Proposed transit service improvements will cost $973,000 next year and annualized at $2.7 million to add 35,000 service hours, increase service to Conestoga College and integrate with Ion. Two MobilityPlus vehicles are also on the table; one to serve the urban area and another for the rural.

Staff also want to increase funding for the Ontario Works discretionary benefits program, following a review this summer of the program that provides a range of health and other benefits to residents on social assistance. The working group recommended an increase to the annual contribution of $235,000 to maintain service levels.

Final budget approval is scheduled for Dec. 13.